There is no one formula, graph or chart to answer this question. Instead a number of factors are used to determine a healthy weight range for every individual. Listed below are some of these factors:

No symptoms of malnutrition or being underweight. Some of the main symptoms of being underweight include fatigue, inability to concentrate, insomnia, constipation, cold intolerance and irritability. Consequences that should be addressed by a physician include cessation of menstruation, anemia, osteopenia or osteoporosis, low pulse, low blood pressure and heart problems.

Normal body composition. Bodies require a minimum of body fat in order to maintain life and reproduction. Research shows that a minimum of 16% body fat is necessary for menarche. Most authorities agree that lean women have body fat percentages of 18 to 24% and average weight women have 25 to 31% body fat. Lean men have body fat percentages of 6 to 17% and average weight men have 18 to 24% body fat. Body composition is a vital measurement for determining healthy weight. This is because a person can weigh what is considered a healthy weight but have too little body fat to begin menstruation and protect bone health.

Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is a measurement of weight in relation to height. A BMI of less than 18.5 is underweight and indicative of under nutrition. A BMI between 19 to 24 is considered healthy. BMI, however, does not take into account muscle mass and since muscles are heavier than fat, BMI is not an accurate indicator of healthfulness for athletes and fit individuals.

Maintained with “normal” eating. A healthy weight is a weight that a person can maintain with normal eating. In brief normal eating is having regular meals and snacks, eating adequate amounts of food and having a wide variety of foods. A normal eater trusts their internal hunger and fullness signals and is able to be flexible with variety and scheduling. A normal eater has a peaceful relationship with food.

Consideration of weight history and ethnicity. Just as skin color, hair color and height vary among ethnicity weight also varies. For example American Indians tend to have bigger frames than Asians. Thus a lean American Indian would probably weigh more than a lean Asian person. Additionally if a person has struggled with obesity in the past, she is more likely to have a higher healthy weight range than someone who has never gained excessive weight.

Maintained without excessive or compulsive exercise. Sedentary people tend to maintain higher than recommended body weights and people who engage in excessive or compulsive exercise typically maintain artificially low body weights.

Increases with age. As height increases so does weight. Each inch in height is equivalent to 3-6 pounds of increased bone mass, blood volume, and organs. Even after peak height is reached bodies continue to physically mature thus a person may continue to gain and /or redistribute weight. Ideally, from at least the mid 20’s to mid 40’s weight is maintained within 5 to10 pounds. Perimenopause and menopause is also a time where weight gain and redistribution may occur due to lower estrogen levels. The average weight gain during menopause is 5 to 10 pounds.

Weight range rather than a single number. Weight fluctuates within the day and from day to day due to fluid fluctuation, hormones, elimination, sodium intake and a number of other factors. At least 3 pounds during the day and even more from day to day can be attributed to normal fluctuation which is why a range instead of a single number, is imperative.

In summary just as no two dogs, even within the same breed, are likely to weigh and look the same, no two people are likely to weigh and look alike. We each have our own unique features which are mostly determined by factors that we cannot control. People become dissatisfied and unhappy trying to achieve and maintain a weight that is unnatural for them. P.S. Scales belong on fish!

The common assumption about people with anorexia is that they don’t eat or eat only healthy, nutritious foods, are frightfully thin and that they do not want to restore weight. This is true for some people who struggle with anorexia, but not all. In fact, people with anorexia range vastly in symptoms and appearance. The following misconceptions are things I hear regularly from my clients and families:

Myth 1. People with anorexia don’t eat. While some people with anorexia eat minimally, others eat regular meals and snacks. The commonality is that the person with anorexia consistently eats less than their body requires which leads to weight loss or maintenance of an artificially- low body weight.

Myth 2. People with anorexia only eat healthy foods. Fruits and veggies, no processed foods, whole or no grains are rigid rules of some people with anorexia, but just as many anorexics consume hamburgers, cookies and candy. How can this be? Many anorexics have figured out that quantity, not quality leads to weight manipulation. If intake is less than needs, regardless if the intake consists of calorically dense foods, weight loss is achieved. Other people with anorexia “eat for show.” In social situations, eating is normalized; however when alone the individual with anorexia makes up for eating by restricting.

Myth 3.People with anorexia are skeletal and frail. This is probably the most misunderstood myth. Because the media sensationalizes only the sickest girls with anorexia, our society tends to think that anorexia is defined as those girls whose appearance is extreme. The other reason this is difficult to understand is because all bodies are different. Weighing less than 85% of expected weight differs since expected weight is dependent on many factors including ethnicity, genetics, age and body frame.

Myth 4.If someone has been thin throughout her life, she doesn’t have a problem. In some cases a child or adolescent who has always been thin increases in height but does not keep up with expected weight gain.

Myth 5. People with anorexia do not want to gain weight. Some people who struggle with anorexia have a realistic body image and do in fact want to restore weight. Everyone knows someone with an eating disorder and just because a person eats and looks “OK” doesn’t mean that she is healthy.